Northern Ireland Executive for Education: Budget

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the Northern Ireland Executive for Education budget in the last financial year was spent on administration of the area boards; and what was spent on the provision of education.

Baroness Amos: In the 2002–03 financial year 2.2 per cent of funds allocated for education was spent on Education and Library Board administration; 95.9 per cent was spent on the provision of education, and the remaining 1.9 per cent on other administration.

Northern Ireland Executive for Health: Budget

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the Northern Ireland Executive for Health budget in the last financial year was spent on administration of the area boards; and what was spent on the provision of health.

Baroness Amos: Of the final funds allocated to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland, 1.3 per cent of the net resource outturn for 2002–03 was spent on administration costs by the four regional health boards. A further 91.4 per cent of the final funds allocated was spent on providing healthcare.

Northern Ireland: Tertiary Education at Springvale

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the progress on the development of a tertiary education campus on the Springvale site in North West Belfast.

Baroness Amos: The Springvale Project was to be a joint venture between the University of Ulster and the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, comprising a joint further education/higher education campus, an outreach facility and an applied research centre to promote the economic, social, cultural and educational regeneration of North and West Belfast. The Outreach and Applied Research Centres were to be delivered by conventional procurement means with the joint campus being procured via a private finance initiative project.
	The Outreach Facility has been delivered with funding from the Millennium Commission and the International Fund for Ireland. It has been operational since May 2002.
	Difficulties arose in the preparation of the outline business case for the main campus with the University of Ulster declaring the project unaffordable in capital and recurrent terms. The university declared its intention to withdraw from the project, following which further development of the Applied Research Centre was put on hold.
	Following the university's withdrawal, the Springvale Board was asked to carry out a review of the project. The review has just been completed and endorsed by the Springvale Board. The report was forwarded to Jane Kennedy, Minister with Responsibility for Employment and Learning, on 13 January 2004. As part of the review process, the Belfast Institute has put forward proposals for a centre, adjacent to the Outreach Centre, that will focus on workforce development and business start-up. The Minister will consider the proposals brought forward in the review and will make a statement in due course.

Cross-Border Implementation Bodies: Provision of Cars for Chief Executives

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 January (WA 65) concerning the remuneration package for the chief executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body, at what point on the scale Mr McKinney started employment; and why that point was selected.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 21 May 2003 (WA 84).

Special European Union Programmes Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 January (WA 66) concerning the Special European Union Programmes Body, what outside consultants were used in 2001; for what purpose; who selected them; and on what basis.

Baroness Amos: Details of the consultants used by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in 2001 and the purpose for which they were used are provided below:
	
		
			 Consultants used Purpose 
			 Deloitte & Touche Accountancy support 
			 Deloitte & Touche Recruitment—CEO advertisement 
			 Carr Communications PR for EU Programmes 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers Recruitment 
			 Omni Equal Opportunities Policy 
			 Omni Equality Scheme 
			 DFP GPA fees 
			 Omni Report on TSN action plan 
			 Helm Corporation Accountancy support & Playboard report 
			 Beauchamps Solicitors Legal fees 
			 Venture Intl Training workshop 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers Pensions advice 
		
	
	In all the cases the consultants were selected by SEUPB personnel on the basis of their compliance with the terms of reference and in line with government procurement advice.

Northern Ireland: Crimes against Older People

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) break-ins; (b) assaults; and (c) burglaries directed against old age pensioners have taken place in Northern Ireland each year since 1994 and in how many cases there has been a conviction.

Baroness Amos: The following tables set out the level of recorded crime against older people over the past five years. We have not provided information before then as new counting rules were introduced in 1998 which would make comparisons with previous years meaningless.
	
		
			  Number 
			 1998–99 
			 Assault 122 
			 Personal robbery 56 
			 1999–2000 
			 Assault 157 
			 Personal robbery 56 
			 2000–01 
			 Assault 155 
			 Personal robbery 60 
			 2001–02 
			 Assault 155 
			 Personal robbery 101 
			 Domestic burglary 1,727 
			 2002–03 
			 Assault 204 
			 Personal robbery 139 
			 Domestic burglary 1,962 
		
	
	The category assault includes wounding with intent, GBH with intent, wounding, GBH, AOABH, aggravated assault and common assault.
	PSNI introduced a computerised crime recording system in April 2001 which resulted in a more accurate recording of age information. For this reason domestic burglary offences can be supplied only for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	Information about convictions is not held in the format requested, but the following table sets out the total number of convictions for assault and burglary in Northern Ireland from 1994. Information is not available at this stage in respect of convictions beyond 2001.
	
		
			 Year Assault Burglary 
			 1994 1,529 408 
			 1995 1,443 344 
			 1996 1,536 391 
			 1997 1,361 378 
			 1998 1,385 364 
			 1999 1,421 445 
			 2000 1,210 320 
			 2001 1,184 193 
		
	
	These figures are based on the principal offence. This means that where proceedings involve more than one offence dealt with at the same time and where there has been a finding of guilt, the tables usually record the offence for which the greatest penalty was imposed.

Northern Ireland: Crimes against Older People

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to reverse the rising numbers of attacks and burglaries on old age pensioners in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: The Government are committed to improving security for older people in Northern Ireland. The Minister with responsibility for Criminal Justice issues in Northern Ireland, John Spellar, launched two initiatives in October 2003. The Lock Out Crime Scheme will supply and fit free of charge over the next two years, physical security measures for people aged 75 and over in receipt of benefits, living in areas of high domestic burglary. A television advertisement giving information to older people about the most appropriate way to answer their doors to unknown callers was screened, also in October 2003.
	In addition, a community safety strategy for older people will be issued for consultation in February 2004. Already through the Community Safety Challenge competition, 14 projects have been funded within local areas which include improving security for older people as one of their key themes. These projects are valued at £400,000.
	Finally, the police have developed a number of initiatives to tackle crime against older people including, holding a conference in early March 2004 which will focus on crime issues relating to older people, the development of a control strategy covering crimes against older persons, the introduction of vulnerable persons registers in some district command units, the analysis of crime patterns to improve information about those criminals targeting older people and supplying advice as required.

North/South Language Body: Budget

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 January (WA 79), concerning the budget for 2003 for the Ulster-Scots Agency, and in view of the statement in the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June 2003 (WA 44) that the budget provision was notified by the Eire Government to the Northern Ireland department on 12 November 2002, what was the purpose of the meeting of 25 October 2002, the minutes of which indicate that there was no detailed discussion of the budget and the business plan.

Baroness Amos: The purpose of the meeting on 25 October 2002 was to identify key issues for the North/South Language Body which required North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) approval. Both agencies of the body were informed at this meeting that their draft 2003 business plans needed to be submitted for approval and that the associated budget needed to be approved by the NSMC prior to 31 December 2002.

Northern Ireland: Priorities and Budget2004–06

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord President on 13 January (WS 19–24) on Northern Ireland priorities and budget 2004–06, how specifically they intend to tackle sectarianism, community division and inter-community conflict.

Baroness Amos: It is clear from the recent consultation on A Shared Future—improving relations in Northern Ireland that people in Northern Ireland want action to eliminate sectarianism and racism and to be able to live and work without fear of intimidation. Also, consultees urged government to take action to reduce tension and conflict at interface areas and support the development of integrated/shared communities where people wish to learn, live, work and play together.
	Government are considering the outcome of the consultation and will bring forward proposals later this year on a new policy for improving relations in Northern Ireland. In the mean time, government will continue to harness actions across departments and agencies, working closely with its social and economic partners, to achieve measurable improvements in equality, poverty and disadvantage, and community cohesion. They will also demonstrate their commitment to tackling race crime and sectarian crime by bringing forward draft legislation shortly.

Northern Ireland: Priorities and Budget2004–06

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord President on 13 January (WS 19–24) on Northern Ireland priorities and budget 2004–06, what they understand by "community cohesion" and how they think this can, or should, be improved.

Baroness Amos: A cohesive community is a peaceful, inclusive, stable and fair society, firmly founded on the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, mutual trust and the protection and vindication of human rights for all. It is based on partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of good relationships. A cohesive community is one in which everyone has the chance to fulfil their potential.
	Northern Ireland remains a deeply divided society with patterns of fear that have become ingrained. However, promoting equality of opportunity and justice for all, building trust and confidence between and within communities, developing social capital and tackling racism and sectarianism remain key priorities for government.
	The Government will pursue these priorities through a broad range of policies and programmes which are set out in the published document Priorities and Budget 2004–06. These include the putting in place of a new policy and strategy to promote good relations, further measures to combat poverty and social exclusion, a neighbourhood renewal programme, the development of targeted employment initiatives tailored to meet local needs through partnership working and steps to facilitate the growth of the community and voluntary sector to increase its business strength and create a supportive enabling environment. A copy of the Priorities and Budget 2004–06 document is available in the Library.

Northern Ireland: Priorities and Budget2004–06

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Lord President on 13 January (WS 19–24) on Northern Ireland priorities and budget 2004–06, what extra resources they will provide to the voluntary and community sector.

Baroness Amos: The Government recognise the key contribution of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. It is not possible to identify the specific allocations that all departments may make to the voluntary and community sector, but the Government will continue to work in partnership with the voluntary and community sector in the development of public services. Additional funding amounting to £7 million has been made available for 2004–05, through the Voluntary and Community Unit in the Department for Social Development, to support capacity building in the voluntary and community sector and to support essential services delivered by the sector. This includes £3 million per annum available through the Local Community Fund. This fund was established in 2003 to help build trust and confidence and develop community capacity and leadership.
	The Government await the recommendations of the Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, to be available in June 2004, to guide future policy and resourcing considerations.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether cross-border implementation bodies are consulted and their business plans taken into account when decisions are taken on budgets and the allocation of funding; if not, what is the purpose of such bodies.

Baroness Amos: The budgetary process as set out in the financial memorandum for each North/South implementation body requires each body to prepare, in consultation with the sponsor and finance departments, a three-year corporate plan and an annual business plan, including financial projections. This material, and associated dialogue, is taken into account in all funding decisions for the bodies.

Ulster-Scots Future Search

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the proposals from the 2002 Future Search into Ulster-Scots.

Baroness Amos: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in consultation with representatives of the Ulster-Scots community, has been considering how best to take this matter forward. An Ulster-Scots Future Search Implementation Group, comprising participants from the Ulster-Scots community and the statutory sector, has been set up and I am pleased to report that the first meeting is scheduled for February 2004.

Northern Ireland Parliamentary Constituencies

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When 18 parliamentary constituencies were created in Northern Ireland; what was the total electorate of Northern Ireland at that time; and what is the total electorate now.

Baroness Amos: The present 18 parliamentary constituencies were created in Northern Ireland by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. The 1995 Register of Electors (towards the end of the Review) was 1,169,423. The 1996 Register of Electors showed the total electorate as 1,176,927.
	This compares with the total current electorate of 1,097,526, according to the latest register in force on 1 September 2003.

Independent Review of Government Communications

Lord Wakeham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the Independent Review of Government Communications, presented to the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 19 January.

Baroness Amos: The Government's response to the final report of the Independent Review of Government Communications is set out in my Statement of 19 January. [Official Report: Col. WS37–38.]

EU Law: ECJ Cases Outstanding against UK

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases have been taken to the European Court of Justice and are now outstanding against the United Kingdom for failure to implement European Union laws; and how this number compares with outstanding cases against (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Italy and (d) Belgium.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As of 22 January 2004, there were 19 outstanding cases in the European Court of Justice against the UK alleging failure to implement EU law. At the same time, there were 32 cases outstanding against France, 28 each against Germany and Italy, and 20 against Belgium.

EU Constitution

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the Irish government about the proposed European Union constitution.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have been in regular contact with all member and accession states, including Ireland, during the IGC, both at ministerial and official level. In the Conclusions of the December European Council, the Irish Presidency was requested on the basis of consultations to make an assessment of the prospect for progress and to report to the European Council in March. This year, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister met the Taoiseach on 19 January, where the IGC was discussed.

Failed Asylum Seekers Returned to DRC

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have received of problems encountered by failed asylum seekers who are returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what inquiries they have made of the authorities in Kinshasa concerning any such allegations.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have received no evidence of problems encountered by failed asylum seekers who are returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the United Kingdom has not acceded to the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights so as to enable the United Nations Human Rights Committee to consider individual complaints of breaches of the covenant by the United Kingdom.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government are currently reviewing the United Kingdom's position in relation to a number of international human rights instruments. This review includes the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which allows the right of individual petition. The very wide scope of the review, and the number of government departments involved, have caused the review to take longer than expected. We will announce its outcomes to Parliament as soon as is reasonably possible.

Afghanistan: Opium Poppy Production

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	According to the United Nations poppy crop survey in Afghanistan, what was the level of opium poppy production in that country for each year from 2000–03.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: According to the United Nations annual poppy crop survey in Afghanistan, the level of opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan each year from 2000–03 is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Hectares Tonnes 
			 2000 82,000 3,300 
			 2001 8,000 185 
			 2002 74,000 3,400 
			 2003 80,000 3,600 
		
	
	The low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation; the ban did not however address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and was enforced with a mix of threat and bribery.

UN Security Council: Permanent Members and Veto

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the criteria governing the use of veto power by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; and whether they consider that these criteria should be re-defined and narrowed.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no criteria governing the use of the veto. Under Article 27(3) of the UN charter the veto applies to decisions of the Security Council on all other (i.e. non-procedural) matters.
	The UK encourages all permanent members of the Security Council to use the veto with restraint and only in accordance with the values of the United Nations. The UK last used the veto in 1989, jointly with the US and France, and has not used it alone since 1972.
	Formally changing the scope of application of the veto would require a change in the UN charter. This is unlikely and we are not pursuing such a change.

Somalia

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ban travel to the United Kingdom by the war-lords of Somalia, their families and financial backers; whether they are considering freezing their financial assets where these are located in the United Kingdom; and whether they will seek the imposition of similar sanctions by as many states as possible.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I am pleased that delegates to the Somali leaders' reconciliation consultation in Nairobi reached agreement on new federal political dispensation on 28 January. Against this background, we have no plans at present to introduce a travel ban—or other sanctions—against Somali leaders.

Cannabis: Government Response to STC Report

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to their response to the Report from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99) (9th Report, Session 1997–98), whether they will respond directly to paragraph 4.11 of the report.

Baroness Andrews: The Department of Health would broadly agree with the description of the psychiatric effects of cannabis described in paragraph 4.11 of the Report from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99). We recognise that while a causative link between early cannabis use and later development of schizophrenia is not conclusively proven, recent epidemiological research has shown a stronger association than was evident at the time of the report.
	The department recognises that confirming a clinical diagnosis in the context of continuing psychosis and persistent cannabis use can be a complex process. This needs to be made on a case-by-case basis by consultant psychiatrists and the multi-professional clinical teams involved with the care of particular patients to minimise any risk of mis-diagnosis.
	The department notes that neither antipsychotic medication nor the provisions of the Mental Health Act (1983) are exclusively used for the management of schizophrenia. These interventions, in certain circumstances, are used to manage symptoms of psychosis or to detain a patient with "psychosis", so that use of these interventions does not itself equate with misdiagnosis. In fact use of powers under the Mental Health Act does not depend on identifying specific diagnoses (such as schizophrenia) but rather on the presence of "mental disorder". lynne

Bereavement

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking nationwide to counterbalance the negative effects of a significant bereavement on young people.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: A variety of statutory, voluntary and hospice services currently operate, which provide good quality care to those who might benefit from support or treatment while grieving.

Bereavement

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have plans to implement a nationwide bereavement strategy to help children who experience a significant bereavement.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There are no immediate plans to implement a nationwide bereavement strategy though officials continue to take an interest in the work of both the statutory and the voluntary bodies which are active in this field.

Bereavement

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are in place to help families cope with, and to stay united, during times of bereaving.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: A variety of services are provided by statutory bodies which aim to inform, support and provide practical assistance to children and their families during times of bereavement. Services are usually accessed, following referral or self-referral, after an assessment of the child's needs, which might also include consideration of the needs of their family.
	A number of voluntary and hospice organisations also address issues of bereavement and serve to complement statutory services.

Universities: First Class Honours Degrees

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many first class honours degrees were awarded by universities in each of the four nations of the United Kingdom; and what percentage these represented of all first degrees awarded in each nation, in (a) 2003; (b) 1998; (c) 1993; (d) 1988; (e) 1983; (f) 1978; (g) 1973; and (h) 1968.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The available data are tabulated below. Data for 1998 and 2003 include the new universities created following the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act—42 in 1998 and 44 in 2003.
	
		Undergradute degrees awarded by UK Universities
		
			 Country Year Total degrees awarded Total First Class Hons Degree % First Class Hons Degree 
			 England 68 32,945 2,311 7.0 
			  73 39,244 3,045 7.8 
			  78 48,814 3,259 6.7 
			  83 57,875 3,804 6.6 
			  88 55,254 4,729 8.6 
			  93 67,070 6,606 9.8 
			  98 187,183 16,459 8.8 
			  2003 194,448 21,879 11.3 
			 Wales 68 2,880 150 5.2 
			  73 3,654 156 4.3 
			  78 4,244 157 3.7 
			  83 5,152 162 3.1 
			  88 5,026 229 4.6 
			  93 6,248 364 5.8 
			  98 10,161 752 7.4 
			  2003 12,686 1,293 10.0 
			 Scotland 68 5,860 300 5.1 
			  73 7,808 386 4.9 
			  78 8,920 439 4.9 
			  83 10,062 476 4.7 
			  88 10,026 668 6.7 
			  93 11,370 1,008 8.9 
			  98 22,873 1,639 7.2 
			  2003 23,941 2,086 8.7 
			 Northern Ireland 68 1,051 66 6.3 
			  73 1,771 72 4.1 
			  78 1,679 55 3.3 
			  83 1,829 55 3.0 
			  88 3,450 128 3.7 
			  93 4,419 300 6.8 
			  98 6,500 518 8.0 
			  2003 6,479 613 9.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Universities' Statistical Record, Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Undergraduates

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of full-time undergraduate students in England are (a) 18–22 years of age; (b) 23-24 years of age; and (c) over 25 years of age.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest available data are shown in the table. Comparable figures for 2003–04 will not be available until January 2005.
	
		Full-time undergraduates in England(1) 2002–03 (provisional)
		
			 Age Numbers % 
			 Under 18 4,228 0.5 
			 18–22 707,260 78.0 
			 23–24 58,192 6.4 
			 25 and over 137,321 15.1 
			 Total 907,001 100.0 
		
	
	(1) Covers UK domiciled and overseas students in HE and FE institutions.

Undergraduates

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many students in England in the current academic year are (a) full-time; and (b) part-time; and what is the full-time equivalent number for those who are part-time.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest available figures are shown in the table. Comparable figures for 2003–04 will not be available until January 2005.
	
		Undergraduates(1) in England 2002–03 (provisional)
		
			  Number 
			 Full-time 907,001 
			 Part-time 357,827 
			 FTE of part-time(2) 125,239 
		
	
	(2) Covers UK domiciled and overseas students in HE and FE institutions.
	(3) The full-time equivalent (FTE) factor used for all part-time students is 0.35.

Catholic Sixth-form Colleges

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 12 January (WA 70–72), whether the 16 Catholic sixth-form colleges may lawfully employ only Catholic principals, teachers and other staff, in order to maintain their Catholic ethos.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: If the 16 Catholic sixth-form colleges wish to give preference to Catholics as regards the employment of staff, they will need to demonstrate that this is a genuine occupational requirement for the particular position under Regulation 7 (Exception for genuine occupational requirement) of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1660) in the same way as other employers. The proposed amendment in respect of the admission of students to the colleges does not impact on matters connected with the employment of staff.

Iraq: Conditions of Captivity

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have been consulted about the conditions of captivity of Saddam Hussein, other Baathist leaders and military commanders; and whether British personnel are among their interrogators.

Lord Bach: Conditions of captivity are a matter for the detaining power, which in the case of Saddam Hussein is the United States. Some individuals are held on the UK's behalf by the United States under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding governing transfers of prisoners. The UK remains responsible for these individuals and has access to the facilities in which they are being held.
	The UK is also able to interrogate some prisoners for which we are not the detaining power where information might be obtained that enhances the security of the multi-national force in Iraq. Interrogations are conducted in accordance with all legal obligations.

Armed Forces: Reservists

Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To which countries, and for what duration, members of the Reserved Services of the Armed Forces were posted in the years 2002 and 2003.

Lord Bach: In the past two years reservists have served in the UK, Germany, Turkey, USA, Canada, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo and the Falklands.
	Generally, reservists supporting operations have been mobilised between seven and a half and eight months. This usually equates to six months in theatre plus a further one and a half to two months made up of pre-deployment training and post-deployment administration and leave. For those serving on full-time reserve service (FTRS), the length of service overseas is dependent on the terms of their FTRS commitment.

Armed Forces: Reservists

Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the Reserve Services of the Armed Forces were mobilised in the years 2002 and 2003.

Lord Bach: The number of reservists who were mobilised in the years 2002 and 2003 are as follows:
	2002: 1,720 reservists
	2003: 9,550 reservists
	These figures include Volunteer Reserves, Regular Reserves and Sponsored Reserves.

Armed Forces: Reservists

Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the Reserve Services of the Armed Forces lost their civilian employment after being mobilised for Armed Services support in the years 2002 and 2003.

Lord Bach: There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Ministry of Defence. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the number of reservists who may have lost their civilian job. For 2003, we are aware of only 14 individuals who have brought cases under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985. No cases were brought in 2002.

Heathrow Airport: Travelators

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 27 June 2003 (WA 49–50), whether the travelators at Heathrow Airport fell below the required standard in 2003; and, if so, in how many months of 2003; and by how much they did not meet the required standard.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The performance of travelators at Heathrow is primarily a matter for the airport operator. However, following an adverse finding by the Competition Commission, the Civil Aviation Authority imposed last year a scheme of standards and rebates for a number of services and facilities at Heathrow, including travelators. The standard for travelators is that in each month they should be available for 98 per cent of the time during the core period of the day from 05:00 to 23:00. The scheme came into effect in July 2003 and applies to each of the four terminals at Heathrow. For the six months from July to December, the airport met the standard in Terminal One, but failed to achieve it in two of the months in Terminal Two, in all six of the months in Terminal Three and in one of the months in Terminal Four. Where the terminals failed to reach the standard, travelator availability was above 90 per cent on seven occasions and above 80 per cent on the other two.

Honours Awards

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the science Minister will name the "rogue civil servant" he has said was responsible for resisting the award of an honour to Professor Colin Blakemore; if not, whether they will state in which department the civil servant works; and whether any disciplinary action is being taken against that person.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The names of members of Honours Assessment Committees are not made public, nor do we comment on confidential discussions held within these committees.

Royal Mail: VAT

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When Postcomm intends to conclude its investigation into whether the Royal Mail should continue to be VAT exempt.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: This is a matter for Postcomm. I am aware however that Postcomm recently published a consultation document that examines the special privileges enjoyed by Royal Mail including VAT. I understand more information is available on its website: http://www.postcomm.gov.uk and that the deadline for responses is 12 April 2004.

Manufacturing Employment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to address the reduction in size of the manufacturing workforce by 116,000 workers in the three months to November 2003.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: A trend of declining manufacturing employment has been a feature of advanced economies over the past 30 years. Even so, new jobs are created all the time. Around 250,000 manufacturing vacancies were reported to Jobcentre Plus in the past year. Where there are signficant redundancies in the manufacturing sector, the Rapid Response Service works to move people quickly into new jobs, preventing them becoming detached from the labour market. Overall the UK labour market is performing well, with total employment rising by nearly 1.7 million since spring 1997, and unemployment falling in every region in Britain over the past year.
	We published the Government's manufacturing strategy in May 2002—the first such strategy for 30 years—which we developed in partnership with industry, trade unions and other stakeholders, following a summit meeting on the challenges facing manufacturing held in December 2001. The manufacturing strategy aims to create a high value manufacturing sector in the UK with a highly skilled well paid workforce, moving away from competing on the basis of low skill and low wages.

Squirrels

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are proposing, in compliance with their international obligations and domestic political commitments to biodiversity, to help the Lake District National Park and other parks to address the problem of grey squirrels and the threat which they pose to red squirrels.

Lord Whitty: I understand that as a matter of urgency, a special ecological report will be presented to a meeting of the National Park Authority's Implementation Committee in March, in response to concerns raised by members of the public, regarding the dramatic decline in the numbers of red squirrels within the Lake District National Park.
	Numerous positive measures to enhance the red squirrel's chances of survival in the Lake District National Park, and other areas where isolated populations exist, are under way or are being planned. Measures include habitat management, targeted control of grey squirrels, operational and land use measures and future forest structure planning aimed at minimising conditions for colonisation of grey squirrels. This is in line with our international obligations under Article 8 (h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and with our domestic biodiversity commitments. These are being taken forward by a range of governmental and voluntary organisations working in partnership under the red squirrel Biodiversity Action Plan.

European Convention on Human Rights: Additional Protocols

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) When they first considered whether to ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights and the other human rights treaties to which the United Kingdom is party and to accept the individual complaint mechanisms to the United Nations supervisory bodies; and
	(b) When they will announce their decisions on these issues.

Lord Filkin: Additional Protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights to which the United Kingdom has not acceded and individual complaint mechanisms to the United Nations supervisory bodies which the UK has not accepted have been considered under the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments. The review was announced by Lord Irvine on 7 March 2002, and the first interdepartmental meeting of officials took place on 15 May 2002. We will report the outcomes of the review as soon as is reasonably possible.

European Convention on Human Rights: Additional Protocols

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recommendations have been made by the United Nations treaty bodies and non-governmental organisations proposing that the United Kingdom should ratify Additional Protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights and other human rights treaties by which the United Kingdom is bound, and should accept the individual complaint mechanisms operated by the United Nations supervisory bodies.

Lord Filkin: All four treaty monitoring bodies for the main United Nations human rights treaties (the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention against Torture and other forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) have at one time or another recommended that the United Kingdom should accept the individual complaints mechanisms associated with the treaties. A number of non-governmental organisations consulted as part of the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments have also recommended that the United Kingdom should accept the individual complaints mechanisms, and that the UK should sign and ratify additional protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Research and Development: Central Government Spending

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the expenditure of central government on research and development per head of population in each standard region and nation of the United Kingdom, for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 2 February 2004.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on central government spending on research and development per head of population in each standard region and nation of the UK. (HL814)
	The most recent information on research and development (R&D) government expenditure available is for 2001–02. The estimate for total net government R&D expenditure which is either performed or funded by government is £7,167 million, of which £684 million is spent abroad. Estimates are not available on a regional basis.
	Estimates of the amount of R&D performed by government departments themselves are available by Government Office Region for 2001. This information is taken from the DTI publication "Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics" and is shown in the attached table.
	
		Expenditure on research and development performed within Government Establishments(4) in 2001, by nation and English Government Office Region.
		
			  £ million £ per head 
			 England 1,537 31.1 
			 North East 4 1.6 
			 North West and Merseyside 66 9.8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 50 10.1 
			 East Midlands 68 16.2 
			 West Midlands 65 12.3 
			 Eastern 277 51.2 
			 London 238 32.6 
			 South East 515 64.2 
			 South West 254 51.4 
			 Wales 49 17.0 
			 Scotland 226 44.7 
			 Northern Ireland 16 9.6 
			 United Kingdom 1,829 31.0 
		
	
	(4) Figures include estimates for local authorities, and those areas of central government for which data are not available from the Government Survey.
	(5) Calculated using ONS estimates of the mid-2001 usually resident population (all ages)

Sports Boards

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 18 December 2003 (WA 182–83), what is the estimated percentage of the total (a) lottery and (b) Exchequer funding due for disbursement by Sport England on (i) a regional level and (ii) a national level for 2005–06.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: £ million Per cent 
			 Lottery   
			 Regional 99.9 52.11 
			 National 97.0 50.58 
			 Overhead 15.4 8.04 
			 Total 212.3 110.74 
			 Exchequer   
			 Regional 37.8 59.57 
			 National 12.9 20.43 
			 Overhead 12.7 20.00 
			 Total 63.4 100.00 
		
	
	These figures are based on cashflow projections. The lottery figures include the draw down of lottery fund balances. The regional element to these figures includes funding for regional programmes and national programmes that are regionally delivered.
	Further to my Answer to the noble Lord of 18 December, (WA 182–83) the figures given refer to 2003–04 to 2005–06 rather than 2005–06 as stated, I apologise to the noble Lord for this confusion.

Sport England: Staff Costs

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 15 December 2003 (WA 111) on the regional offices of Sport England, what are the reasons for (a) the increase in staff costs from 2001–02 to 2002–03; and (b) the differences in staff costs between the different regions.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The increase in staff costs at Sport England's regional offices from 2001–02 to 2002–03 is predominantly due to an increase in the number of externally funded posts to deliver the regional Green Spaces programme.
	Sport England operates a standard pay policy across the organisation and the differences in costs between the regions are due to different local staffing structures.

Government Departments: Private Management Consultants

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many private management consultants government departments employed, and at what cost, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Information about private management consultants employed by government departments and related costs is not held centrally by government and could be obtained from individual departments and agencies only at disproportionate cost.

Committee of European Banking Supervisors

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the new European banking supervisory group will start operating; and how will it affect the work of the Financial Services Authority.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) formally started operating on 1 January 2004. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) will participate in CEBS meetings. The role of CEBS is to advise the European Commission on the preparation of draft implementing measures in the field of banking activities; to contribute to the consistent application of Community directives and to the convergence of member states' supervisory practices throughout the Community; and to enhance supervisory cooperation, including the exchange of information on individual supervised institutions.

RPIX

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would have been the percentage increase in the RPIX inflation index for each year since 1997, if its housing-related elements had risen each year only by the same percentage as national average earnings.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 2 February 2004.
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the percentage change in the RPIX measure of inflation would have been for each year since 1997 if its housing-related elements had risen each year only by the same percentage as national average earnings. I am replying in his absence. (HL962)
	These figures are provided in the attached table, along with the published percentage changes in RPIX over the same period for comparison.
	These figures have been calculated by replacing the housing group components in RPIX (Rent; Depreciation; Council tax and rates; Water and other charges; Repairs and maintenance charges; Do-it-yourself materials; Dwelling insurance and ground rent) with the non-seasonally adjusted Average Earnings Index (AEI) including bonuses. It should be noted that RPIX covers the United Kingdom and excludes the top 4 per cent of households by income, while the AEI covers all employees in Great Britain. It is not possible to calculate a figure for 2003 because AEI data for December 2003 are not available at present.
	
		Average annual percentage changes to RPIX, and RPIX with adjustment as specified, 1997–2002
		
			  RPIX RPIX, with housing components rising in line with average earnings 
			 1997 2.8 2.7 
			 1998 2.6 2.6 
			 1999 2.3 2.2 
			 2000 2.1 2.0 
			 2001 2.1 2.0 
			 2002 2.2 1.7

Asylum Seekers: Families Claiming before2 October 2000

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Home Office is sending letters to some of the 15,000 heads of families who applied for asylum before 2 October 2000 advising them to withdraw their pending asylum claim, when they are not guaranteed indefinite leave to remain after consideration of their cases: and
	Why the Home Office is depriving the 15,000 families who applied for asylum before 2 October 2000 of the right to pursue their claims for full refugee status, when this would confer benefits on them additional to the status of indefinite leave to remain; and
	Whether an asylum claimant who applied before 2 October 2000 and who agrees to abandon his claim on the basis of advice from the Home Office or the Legal Services Commission would lose his entitlement to National Asylum Support Service support pending a decision on his eligibility for the concession announced by the Home Secretary on 24 October 2003; and, if so, whether they will write to all those who have already been advised to withdraw their claims warning them of financial disadvantages of doing so.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Families who appear eligible under the one-off exercise to grant indefinite leave to remain to families who applied for asylum before 2 October 2000 are being sent a questionnaire which includes a declaration they are invited to sign. The declaration says:
	"I wish to withdraw my outstanding applications if I am granted Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain in the United Kingdom."
	Therefore, if an applicant chooses not to sign this declaration, or if having signed the declaration they are not in fact granted indefinite leave to enter or remain, then their asylum status will not be changed. The Government are not, therefore, depriving families of the opportunity to pursue asylum claims.
	If the declaration is signed and the family is granted ILR, any outstanding asylum or human rights claim will be treated as withdrawn only once they have received ILR and the family will continue to be supported by National Asylum Support Service (NASS) until then.
	Since applicants will not lose entitlement to support pending a decision on eligibility under the concession, the issue of writing a warning letter to applicants simply does not arise.

Domestic Violence

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken to work with agencies and experts to agree a set of performance indicators against which the success of their domestic violence strategy can be measured.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Work to develop and agree a set of performance indicators against which the success of our domestic violence strategy can be measured is ongoing. We hope to be in a position to make progress public in the spring.

Domestic Violence

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the cost of the domestic violence programme accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel in October 2003 which the Probation Service undertakes in the community; and whether the resources are available from within the current Probation Service budget to implement the programme from April 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The total cost of developing and piloting the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) for male perpetrators of domestic violence is estimated to be £200,000. The programme was developed from the "Duluth Programme—Tactics of Men who Batter" and was piloted in West Yorkshire and London.
	The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme will be rolled out to probation areas from April 2004 and will replace and enhance current provision. The central costs of the roll out are estimated to be £75,000. We expect there to be sufficient funds for this.
	The costs to areas will largely be met from the transfer of resources from the existing programmes and interventions that IDAP will replace.

Identity Cards

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations, if any, have been made by the Government of Eire about the proposal for identity cards in the United Kingdom, and through what channels; whether identity cards will be required in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the United Kingdom; whether identity cards will be for British citizens only or for those who are settled in the United Kingdom; and whether any group will be allowed on grounds of conscience or otherwise to opt out of the scheme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: On 11 November my right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced the Government's decision to build a base for a compulsory national identity cards scheme, for all British citizens resident in the United Kingdom, including in Northern Ireland, and all foreign nationals resident in the United Kingdom for more than three months.
	There have been contacts at both ministerial and official level between the UK and Irish Governments since this announcement was made.
	The Government's announcement set out a two-stage approach to implementing a scheme. It would be compulsory to obtain a card only in the second stage which would require full debate and a vote in both Houses of Parliament following a rigorous evaluation of the first stage. A compulsory scheme would not allow for any group to opt out of its requirements.

Criminal Offences Legislation

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will declare a moratorium on the introduction of further new criminal offences for the rest of this Parliament, so as to concentrate upon the enforcement of existing laws.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have no plans to introduce such a moratorium. There are important Bills currently before Parliament that create new and necessary criminal offences. One such Bill is the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, which proposes a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult. The Government do not create new criminal offences without full consideration. All proposed offences are subject to careful scrutiny to ensure that they are necessary and appropriately formulated.

Cannabis: Reclassification

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they fully researched the alleged link between the use of cannabis and mental illness before deciding to reclassify the drug from class B to class C.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government's decision to seek to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was taken in the light of the advice we received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the harmfulness of cannabis relative to that of other drugs in class B. That advice was based upon a wide-ranging review of the available research.
	The advisory council considered in some depth possible links with mental illness, and concluded that a clear causal link between cannabis use and the development of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, has not been established. However, cannabis use can unquestionably worsen a mental illness which already exists. We continue to monitor the situation carefully.

Prison Population

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are concerned that, although the official total capacity of prisons is 76,700, the prison population is now more than 74,000.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The impact of population pressures is kept under careful review and we continue to investigate options for providing further increases in capacity over the coming years as part of the Government's modernisation strategy. There are currently a number of projects under way to increase the operational capacity of the prison estate.
	Funding has been provided for around 3,000 additional public sector prison places to be built at existing prisons by 2006. Two new private sector prisons providing 1,290 places are also due to be opened at Ashford (near Heathrow) and Peterborough in June 2004 and March 2005 respectively. Together with building programmes in progress, and new accommodation such as 450 additional places at Birmingham, this will increase the total useable capacity of the prison estate to around 78,700 by 2006.
	However, the Government are alert to the risk of a growing population and aim to minimise the effects through the provision of additional places and the reforms announced on 6 January in the Reducing Crime, Changing Lives document which aim to improve the management of offenders and reduce re-offending. Offenders for whom prison is the right penalty should continue to be sent to prison. But there are many offenders for whom tough non-custodial penalties will be more appropriate.

International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) Why the United Kingdom has not accepted the right of individual petition to the United Nations Committee for elimination of all forms of racial discrimination by all those within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom; and
	(b) Which other major countries of the European Union are in a similar position.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are reviewing all of the UK's international human rights commitments including the issue of whether to make a declaration allowing the right of individual petition under Article 14 of the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). The very wide scope of the review, and the number of departments involved, have caused the review to take longer than expected. We will announce its outcomes to Parliament as soon as is reasonably possible.
	We understand that 13 member states of the European Union have made a declaration under Article 14 of ICERD and that two—the United Kingdom and Greece—have not.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of the criticisms made by the United Nations Committee on Human Rights of the Child and the Joint Committee on Human Rights (Tenth Report Session 2002–03, HL paper 117), they will withdraw the reservation made to Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child when ratifying that convention; and if not, what are their reasons.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government believe the reservation is necessary to maintain an effective immigration control. We have no plans to withdraw it. Comprehensive provision for the care and protection of children already exists in United Kingdom law.
	The Government have responded formally to the views expressed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), and the Government's position was explained during a debate in another place on the UNCRC report on 24 October 2002.

Firearms Consultative Committee

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to extend the life of the Firearms Consultative Committee beyond March 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The current life of the committee expires on 31 January 2004. We shall be making an announcement shortly.

Firearms Amnesties

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider the introduction of a "rolling" amnesty for firearms and associated items and equipment.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We do not believe that a "rolling" firearms amnesty would be appropriate. We favour periodic amnesties, the timing and organisation of which are determined in consultation with the police service.

Legal Burden of Proof

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For which offences the accused are required to prove their innocence, rather than the prosecution to prove their guilt.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no offences for which the prosecution does not bear the overall legal burden of proof. There are however some offences that require the defendant to prove certain circumstances in order to benefit from a statutory defence. Information on such offences is not kept centrally.

Criminal Offences: Gaol Sentences

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how many criminal offences punishable by imprisonment the length of gaol sentences provided for in the legislation has been increased since 1997; and for how many such offences the length of sentence has been decreased since 1997.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Records of changes to the maximum penalties are not kept centrally. A comprehensive and exhaustive list of all changes could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Data Protection and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Legislation

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the coming into force of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 on 5 January, what steps are being taken to ensure that private companies which act as intermediaries in the processing of data requests are fully conversant and compliant with the legal requirements of the Data Protection and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Acts.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To the extent that any private company which, in offering a service to communications service providers and public authorities engaged in the disclosure and acquisition of communications data, processes personal data, that company should do so in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The extent of any compliance with legislation, including the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, will depend on the business model adopted by the company.

Data Protection and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Legislation

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the coming into force of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 on 5 January, whether training of individuals as "single points of contact", is sufficiently advanced to ensure that the regime can operate satisfactorily.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The coming into force of the order has, for the first time, imposed regulation specifically on public authorities' acquisition of communications data. The police service, Her Majesty's Customs and the intelligence agencies undertake around 95 per cent of all communications data acquisition by public authorities. Training of their "single points of contact" is well established. Delivery of training to "single points of contact" in additional public authorities is underway. The Government believe it was important to put regulations in place and, over the next six to nine months, move away from untrained and unregulated officials dealing with communications data disclosures to trained ones working within a regulatory framework.

Data Protection and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Legislation

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the coming into force of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 on 5 January, what plans they have to ensure that training programmes for "single points of contact" offered by private companies are fully compliant with the RIPA regime.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Private companies offering training are consulting with the Home Office in producing their syllabuses. Officials responsible for the development and implementation of Part I Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 are participating in training events to review the training delivered and, together with police officers representing the Association of Chief Police Officers Communications Data Working Group, are previewing course materials. Training providers are encouraged additionally to secure accreditation of their courses from academic and industry bodies.

vCJD: Blood Transfusions and Haemophilia Patients

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to Lord Warner's Statement on 17 December (HL Deb, col. 1169) on "vCJD: Blood Transfusion Incident", whether they will now establish and publish in the Official Report the number of haemophilia patients who in the course of their National Health Service treatment have been given blood from donors with vCJD.

Lord Warner: Information on the number of haemophilia patients who in the course of their treatment have been given blood from donors with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is not currently known.

Exercise Referral Schemes: National Quality Assurance Framework

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have taken part in exercise referral schemes since the launch of the National Quality Assurance Framework by the Department of Health in 2002.

Lord Warner: This information is not held centrally, as it is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs) in conjunction with local partners to fund such schemes according to local priorities and in accordance with the National Quality Assurance Framework for Exercise Referral published in April 2001. Copies are available in the Library.
	A survey on obesity management in the United Kingdom, published in October 2003 by Dr Foster Limited, suggests that 89 per cent of PCTs provide exercise on prescription.